Walls of Jericho - Strenuous day hike on Tennessee/Alabama state line

HIKE STATS:
Meeting Time: 7:30 AM
Meeting Place: Target Hickory Hollow
Estimated Drive Time One Way: 1.5 - 2 hours
Hike Distance: 7 miles
Estimated Hike Time: 5 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous (https://www.meetup.com/nashville-hiking/pages/Hike_Rating_System/)
Trip Leader: Forrest Evans, Tennessee Natural Areas Program
250 Hiking Rewards Points (https://www.hikingrewards.com/about)
No dogs, please

This strenuous hike explores the headwaters of the Paint Rock River. The 3.5-mile trail descends steeply into the Walls of Jericho natural amphitheater, crossing many creeks and streams. We will have lunch at the base of the gorge before climbing the 3.5 miles back to the cars. We will hike in and out from the Alabama side of the trail.

This is not an easy hike. Be prepared for mud, slippery spots, and many wet crossings. Do not attempt this hike if you are unsteady on your feet or are not in good shape.

Bring good hiking boots, trekking poles if you use them, lunch/snacks, your camera, and plenty of water. We'll meet at Target Hickory Hollow and carpool from there. Be sure to offer gas money to your carpool driver.

Also I recommend you pack water shoes or sandals to change into to make the last creek crossing. We'll change out of our boots into water shoes, then change back after we come back over Turkey Creek.

Two resources on Walls of Jericho:
Kelly's GPS map on Backpacker Magazine site (https://kl.am/bpwoj)
State Natural Area page (https://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/jericho/)

Do not request guests on this hike yet. Usually, but not always, very popular hikes do not allow guests so that as many real members can get on board as possible. However, when it comes down to the day of, there are almost always a couple of spots free for guests. If your guest can deal with a last minute add, I would say keep in contact with the trip leader and ask up through the day before if guests will be allowed. You can almost count on your guest getting in the way things go.

The absolute ideal thing would be for you to have your friend sign up for the meetup themselves and add themselves to the hike.

DIRECTIONS:
From Nashville take I-24 east toward Chattanooga. Take exit 127 on Highway 64 and turn right toward Winchester (do not miss this exit or you'll be stuck heading up Monteagle!). Stay on Highway 64 for about 15 miles and turn south on Hwy 16 and go about 18 miles to the trailhead on the Alabama side. You'll pass a couple of entrances to the trail before you hit the Alabama state line, so make sure you cross the state line.

Click here (https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Target+Dr,+Antioch,+Tennessee+37013&daddr=35.285985,-85.907593+to:Jericho,+AL&hl=en&geocode=FeL9JQIdK7DV-il_8QSb_21kiDGr--YgRItWRQ%3B%3BFdy2FQIdPone-impGj06p5phiDG1XWp7cukcEA&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=9&via=1&sll=35.268047,-86.190491&sspn=0.968743,2.469177&ie=UTF8&ll=35.330812,-86.138306&spn=0.967992,2.469177&z=9) for directions from Target I-24 to Walls of Jericho.

Click here (https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Jericho,+AL&geocode=&dirflg=&daddr=12569+Sollace+M+Freeman+Hwy,+Sewanee,+TN+37375&f=d&sll=34.984019,-86.079254&sspn=0.077917,0.181961&ie=UTF8&z=11) for directions from Walls of Jericho to Crust Pizza in Sewanee.